If She Told Her Friends Earlier

 Author’s Note: This is an “alternate scene” for the book Speak by Laura Halse Anderson. In the book Mel decided to just watch her friends ignore her instead of trying to tell them what actually happened. In this piece my purpose is to show what would’ve happened if she tried to go tell her friends what happened. This book is written in (the main character) Mel’s point of view and so will my piece.

          It’s the first day of school; and I already know I am going to be ignored. I am expecting this. It’s all because that stupid party. I know I had a reason to call the police but I know they won’t believe me. When I sit down on the bus I see Nicole. What should I do? Should I tell her what happened, or will she just ignore me? I decide to go up and say hi. Just as I predicted, she ignores me. I try to speak again, but she signals for me to leave. I decide it would be in my best interest to walk away. Afterschool on the bus ride home after a horrible day of being ignored I decide to try again. I walk up to her again, but before I can mutter a single word she signals for me to walk away again. I decide instead of walking away this time I am going to just spill all my words out.  At that party over the summer I didn’t mean to ruin an…

“I don’t care what you say I know that you called the police and that ruined my party”, Nicole said blatantly.

I wanted to hurt her at this point! I didn’t call the police at that party for no reason!! Andy Evans it was him.

“What are you talking about?” Said Nicole confusedly.

He raped me. I was too scared to tell anyone but I can’t take the heat from everyone picking on me.

“What would make me believe that?” Stated Nicole

Nicole, we used to be best friends. Why wouldn’t you trust me?

“I don’t know, it just seems like that is a crazy thing that could happen.”  Murmured Nicole

Well it happened. It seems like she feels bad for me. I just walked away. I didn’t say anything else. I go to bed feeling so confused. Not knowing what to expect the next day.

I wake up feeling refreshed. As I’m walking in to the kitchen I see my parents.  There fighting…… again. I am going to just ignore it today. I walk on the bus, and Nicole sits by me? She must feel bad for me. We arrive at school and everyone is talking to me. How many people know? I think I could get used to this.

Later On

It’s almost the end of the year and I think I had a great freshman year. I am keeping my grades up! All my friends took my side and like me and my parents stopped fighting. I’m glad I made the choice to tell my friends what happened at the party.